Intermittent positive pressure resuscitator



Oct. 28, 1969 B. l. JA NSS ON 3,474,785

I INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE] RESUSCITATOR Filed Jan. 19, 1967 United States Patent 3,474,785 INTERMI'ITENT POSITIVE PRESSURE RESUSCITATOR Bernt I. Jansson, Lidingo, Sweden, assignor to AGA Aktiebolag, Lidingo, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Jan. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 610,374 Claims priority, application Sweden, Feb. 15, 1966, 1,897/ 66 Int. Cl. A61m 15/00, 16/00; A62b 7/04 US. Cl. 128145.7 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In respiratory apparatus of the kind by means of which the user may be placed in communication alternately with a source of pressurized breathing gas while inhaling or ambience while exhaling, and which further includes a rubber bladder or the like which can be manually operated to force breathing gas from the source into the lungs of the user to perform artificial respiration, a regulator valve responds to variations of gas pressure in the inhalation conduit to control communication of the latter with the source of pressurized breathing gas, and a relief or safety valve prevents gas pressure in the inhalation conduit from exceeding a predetermined value, so as to avoid hindering the users exhalation by a residual gas pressure acting against the exhalation valve.

The invention relates to a breathing apparatus for applying gas from a gas container, and of the type comprising a breathing mask, a multi-way valve connected to the breathing mask for enabling expiration to the surrounding atmosphere and inspiration through an inflate conduit connected to the multi-way valve, a reservoir connected to the inflate conduit and having a device for creating an overpressure as well as an inhalation conduit emerging into the inflate conduit.

A breathing apparatus of this type can easily be applied to a person who is in need of artificial respiration, overpressure being supplied from the reservoir for forced inspiration and the patient breathing out to the surrounding atmosphere through the multi-way valve. If the victim breathes spontaneously, this is possible without the necessity of taking 011 the apparatus.

However, this apparatus has the disadvantage that, if the person in question is in an atmosphere which is not breathable, he must first be transported to fresh air before artificial respiration can be performed.

The invention has for its object to remove this disadvantage in an apparatus of the type referred to and is characterized by a nonreturn valve provided in the orifice of the inhalation conduit, a regulator connected with the inhalation conduit and having a safety valve, and a supply conduit connected with the regulator and having fittings for coupling to a gas container.

This arrangement widens the field of use of the apparatus and makes it possible for a rescuer Who carries breathing equipment with a spare fitting to mount the apparatus on a victim even if he is not in breathable atmosphere. The patient can then inhale through the regulator from the gas container carried by the rescuer and if artificial respiration should become necessary, it can be done in the same manner already described by means of overpressure from the reservoir.

An embodiment of the invention is shown on the draw- Reference 1 designates a breathing mask, which is con nected via a multi-way valve and an inflate conduit 3 with a reservoir 4 in the form of a compressible and selfexpanding rubber 'bag.

Multi-way valve 2 is of known construction and has a 3,474,785 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 flexible valve disc 5 resting in its inoperative position on an inner valve seat 6 as well as an outer valve seat 7. Valve seat 6 belongs to a conduit 8 which leads to the surrounding air via a nonreturn valve 9.

Provided in the wall of inflate conduit 3 is an aperture which is closed by a nonreturn valve 10 in its inoperative position and which connects with an inhalation conduit 11. The inhalation conduit 11 is connected with a regulator 12 of a 'kind known per se and which is controlled by the breathing pressure and which actuates a valve 15 in response to a subpressure in the inhalation conduit 11 via a membrane 13 and a lever 14, thereby causing gas to be supplied from a supply tube 16. Moreover the regulator 12 has a relief or safety valve 13a for ensuring that gas pressure in the conduit 11 never arises above a predetermined value, in order to preclude the possibility of a residual blocking pressure acting on the underside of the valve disc 5, which would hinder the patients exhalation. Tube 16 terminates in a fitting 17 for coupling to a gas container, by means of which the rescuer can supply breathing gas from the container carried by him.

Preferably a detachable coupling 18 is provided between the inhalation conduit and regulator 12, as indicated in the drawing.

OPERATION 1) Spontaneous breathing from the rescuers gas container: on inhalation, a subpressure is created and unseats the edge of valve disc 5 from seat 7 and opens nonreturn valve 10 so as to actuate membrane 13 via the inhalation conduit 11. Membrane 13 opens valve 15 by means of lever 14 and the patient receives breathing gas.

On exhalation, the suction exerted on membrane 13 terminates, causing valve 15 to close, as well as nonreturn valve 10. The edge of valve disc 5 seats on seat 7. The overpressure caused by the exhalation instead forces the central portion of valve disc 5 downwardly and exhalation takes place through conduit 8 and nonreturn valve 9. The object of nonreturn valve 9 is to preclude inhalation through conduit 8, which might otherwise be possible in case that a resisting effect in the form of a subpressure is present in conduit 3. Such a subpressure could force valve disc 5 against seat 7 and open it at seat 6, whereby inhalation through conduit 8 would be possible. Nonreturn valve 9 makes such inhalation impossible.

(2) Artificial respiration from the rescuers gas container: if the patients spontaneous breathing ceases, the rescuer need only compress rubber bag 4 for inflating, at which time nonreturn valve 10 remains closed and valve disc 5 closes on seat 6 and opens at seat 7. Exhalation takes place through the action of the thorax as in spontaneous breathing. The bag is then filled owing to its self-expansion and then sucks in air via nonreturn valve 10.

If the supplying of gas from the gas container should not stop notwithstanding the reservoir is filled, an overpressure will arise in the conduits 3 and 11. If it is allowed to remain, the overpressure works against the patients exhalation by pushing the valve disc 5 up against the valve seat 6. Since a relief or safety valve 13a is provided on the membrane 13, such undesirable overpressure is carried off, and the patient never runs the risk of such troubles with the breathing.

(3) If the victim is in breathable atmosphere, so that he does not require gas from the container any more, the regulator can be disconnected at 18 and both spontaneous breathing and artificial respiration can take place direct from the surrounding atmosphere in analogy with what was described under (1) and (2).

What is claimed is:

1. Respiratory apparatus comprising a breathing mask; a multi-way valve having an expiration outlet branch,

an inlet branch, a branch connected to said mask, and a pressure responsive valve member for alternately communicating the mask branch with the inlet branch or the outlet branch in response to pressure imbalances on the valve member; an inhalation conduit communicating with said inlet branch; 9. non-return valve in said inhalation conduit permitting flow therethrough toward said inlet branch; gas reservoir means communicating with said inhalation conduit downstream of said nonreturn valve and with said inlet branch for selectively compressing gas received from said inhalation conduit through said nonreturn valve; a regulator device connected to said inhalation conduit and adapted to interconnect a source of pressurized breathing gas, said regulator device comprising regulator valve means responsive to variations of gas pressure in said inhalation conduit to control communication of the latter with the source of pressurized breathing gas; and safety valve means communicating with said inhalation conduit for preventing gas pressure in said inhalation conduit from exceeding a predetermined value.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety valve is located to control the maximum pressure between said regulator device and said nonreturn valve.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said safety valve is located in said regulator device.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reservoir means is compressible and self-expanding.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a releasable coupling'between said regulator device and said inhalation conduit.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said regulator device includes a diaphragm responsive to gas pressures in said inhalation conduit, and said safety valve means is mounted on said diaphragm to normally close apertures extending therethrough, and to open said apertures so as to reduce the pressure in said inhalation con- 5 duit when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined value, so as to prevent any such excess pressure from acting on said pressure responsive valve member in said multi-way valve.

10 References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS v 2,399,643 5/ 1946 Kreiselman 128-145.7 3,158,152 11/1964 Bloom 128 -145.5 15 3,208,449 9/1965 Bartlett 128-445.8 3,262,446 7/1966 Stoner 128-145.7 3,327,704 6/1967 Bartlett 128-145.7 3,366,133 1/1968 Iohannisson 128--145.7

20 FOREIGN PATENTS 197,254 4/ 1908 Germany. 216,459 5/ 1924 Great Britain. 533,297 2/1941 Great Britain. 910,065 11/ 1962 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner KYLE L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner 0 US. Cl. X.R. 

